“Our mission is to maintain the Celebrate De Pere festival so it can be used as a main fundraiser for the area's non-profit organizations, with special consideration given to Veterans service groups.”
Created in 1990 to celebrate the city of De Pere's 100th Anniversary, Celebrate De Pere started as a one-day event, and has since evolved into one of Wisconsin's premier outdoor festivals. Driven by an all-volunteer staff, the event's mission is to help local non-profit groups raise money for their many different causes. The event itself supports local causes with it's proceeds.
Our group of approx. 10 members work year around to make this event happen on Memorial Day weekend each year. Our Veterans deserve to have a weekend dedicated to them for the freedoms they have given all of us, and that is what we try to do with our music festival.
Each year local causes are evaluated by “The Celebrate Committee, Inc.” and funds are distributed. Since 1990, Celebrate De Pere has helped raise over 2 million dollars for these organizations: Vietnam Veterans, De Pere VFW, De Pere Beautification Committee, Cerebral Palsy Center, Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, De Pere Youth Hockey, De Pere Fire Department, De Pere Christian Outreach, De Pere Optimists, De Pere High School Redbirds Girls Softball, De Pere Wrestling, West De Pere Booster Club, De Pere and West De Pere High School Grad Bash/Lock-In, De Pere Police Department, Boy Scouts, De Pere Rotary Club, 432nd Family Readiness Group, Oneida Relay for Life, De Pere Historical Society, the Kress Family Library, Syble Hopp School, NEW Service Dogs and so many more.
The event experienced poor timing with the COVID pandemic being forced to go dormant for two years due to local shutdowns and restrictions on gatherings, but the event returned in 2022 back at Voyageur Park in East De Pere and was a great success! Come join in the fun this year of the Official Kick Off to Summer!!